Hartford Black Lives Matter mural defaced with swastika, white supremacy message
A Black Lives Matter mural in Hartford was defaced with a swastika and a coded white supremacy message, according to Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
The mural on Trinity Street, which was originally painted in the summer of 2020, was vandalized on Saturday night, Bronin said.
“Whoever scrawled this swastika and message of white supremacy is a miserable, small, hate-filled person who wants us divided and afraid — but our Hartford community is united, diverse, loving and strong. We’re angry about this vile act of hate, but we’re not weakened by it,” Bronin said in a statement.
The mural was currently being revised by local artists from around the Hartford community after Trinity Street was repaved. The mural is expected to be finished in time for Juneteenth celebrations.
“I went out this morning to thank the artists who have joined together to renew this mural as a beautiful expression of a community that stands together in love and mutual respect,” Bronin said.
Members of Hartford Police Department’s major crimes, crime scene and intel divisions were all investigating the vandalism, according to Hartford Lt. Aaron Boisvert.
“Our police are working to find the person responsible for this hate crime, and I want that person to know that their hatefulness just made us stronger,” Bronin said.
Later Sunday, Gov. Ned Lamont said, “I am beyond disgusted to learn about the graffiti that was left overnight on Trinity Street.
“These do not represent Connecticut values, and all of us as a community need to take a strong stance to denounce any messages advocating hate and white supremacy,” he said in a statement. “We will not be threatened by the messages of anonymous people who attempt to divide us and instill fear. I appreciate the work by the Hartford Police to investigate this crime.”
Also Sunday, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff denounced the defacing, noting “Hartford’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural is right along the grounds of the State Capitol and is a point of pride for us and the Senate Democratic caucus.
“This kind of hateful bigoted act is becoming frighteningly frequent even in our tolerant state. We have been in contact with the State Capitol Police Department which will assist the Hartford Police Department in any way it can,” the senators said in their statement.